A Guided Tour to your July Journal

Abstract

Through formal and informal surveys of Journal readers, I have discovered that many of you use this column to decide what to read in each issue. As your “tour guide,” I suggest that your next “stop” in the Journal should be the table of contents. Scanning the titles and short summaries will alert you to what articles will be most useful in your practice. A stop at the abstracts of research, perspectives in practice, and review articles should help you decide which articles to spend more time on. In particular, I want to highlight three articles this month. One provides growth charts for children with cerebral palsy, and two are on nutrition issues that continue to make headlines — the French paradox and antioxidants.Charting patterns of growth In my view, it is important to highlieght two types of research in the Journal: research that advances our knowledge of the science of nutrition and research with practical applications for community dietitians, managers, and clinicians. In this issue, Krick et al offer a good example of the latter (p 680). They developed growth grids that have enormous utility in providing referenc growth data for a special population — 0- to 10-year-old children with cerebral palsy Dietitians should seek out such opportunities to share their firsthand knowledge with other practitioners.Assessing the pieces of the antioxidant puzzle Antioxidants are back in the news as some recent research suggests that the link between these micronutrients and cancer prevention is more inconclusive than previously thought. If this swing of the pendulum has left you confused, turn to the continuing education article by Rock (p 693) in which she reviews the current research and gives an overview of what we do know about the antioxidant hypothesis and the biological functions of vitamins C and E and the carotenoids.Examining diet from the French perspective Not too long ago, scientists identified the French paradox: “the lower-than-expected rate of mortality from coronary heart disease in a society where the diet is rich in fat and saturated fat” (p 663). Drewnowski et al present an interesting new approach to the problem. They assessed dietary quality, diversity, and variety and found that although the typical French diet did not meet US dietary recommendations, it was more diverse and varied. Does measuring diet quality in these terms reveal aspects of nutritional status not shown through analysis of macronutrient content alone? These researchers pose an intriguing question.Looking ahead In May I attended the joint, meeting of the ADA and the Canadian Dietetic Association held in Banff, Canada. One of the most exciting sessions was a progress report on the Food and Nutrition Board's revision of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. In the August issue I will take up my reporter's pen and summarize the proposed changes, the most obvious of which is a name change: the RDAs will become the DRIs or Dietary Reference Intakes. In the meantime, Sims’ commentary (p 659) on how the current RDAs should and should not be used is important background reading and addresses many of the concepts that will be covered in the revision of the RDAs.Finally, be sure to look at the President's Page on managed care, which includes a look at HEDIS (p 715); the FYI on aspects of taste and nutrition (p 655); and the article by Patterson et al on the importance of including low-fat options on food frequency questionnaires (p 670). This issue is chock-full of interesting articles — I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed planning it!BOARD OF EDITORSJudith V. Anderson, DrPH, RD, Michigan Department of Public Health, LansingJudith M. Ashley, PhD, RD, University of California, Los AngelesStacey J. Bell, DSc, RD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MassLori Borrud, DrPH, RD, US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MdPamela L. Y. H. Clung, ScD, RD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GaBertrum C. Connell, PhD, RD, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CalifSonja L. Connor, MS, RD, The Oregon Health Sciences University, PortlandAnn M. Coulston, MS, RD, FADA, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, CalifJohn P. Foreyt, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TexMary B. Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, Rush-Presbyteri,an-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IllRachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, University of Vermont, BurlingtonJanice L. Kidd, PhD, MBA, RD, Kidd & Company, Knoxville, TennNancy F. Krebs, MD, RD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, DenverSusan M. Krebs-Smith, PhD, RD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MdDebra A. Krummel, PhD, RD, West Virginia University School of Medicine, MorgantownKaren S. Kubena, PhD, RD, Texas A&M University, College StationChristine J. Lewis, PhD, RD, US Food and Drug Administration,, Washington, DCRichard D, Mattes, PhD, MPH, RD, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IndEllen Parham, PhD, RD, Northern Illinois University, De KalbCheryl L. Rock, PhD, RD, FADA, The University of Michigan, Ann ArborPatt Queen Samour, MMSc, RD, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MassPatricia L. Splett, PhD, RD, Cost-effective-ness Consultant, St Paul, MinnLinda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IllMadelyn L. Wheeler, MS, RD, Indiana University Medical Center & Diabetes Research and Training Center, IndianapolisAnita K. Wilson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Stout, MenomonieOlivia B. Wood, MPH, RD, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind Through formal and informal surveys of Journal readers, I have discovered that many of you use this column to decide what to read in each issue. As your “tour guide,” I suggest that your next “stop” in the Journal should be the table of contents. Scanning the titles and short summaries will alert you to what articles will be most useful in your practice. A stop at the abstracts of research, perspectives in practice, and review articles should help you decide which articles to spend more time on. In particular, I want to highlight three articles this month. One provides growth charts for children with cerebral palsy, and two are on nutrition issues that continue to make headlines — the French paradox and antioxidants. Charting patterns of growth In my view, it is important to highlieght two types of research in the Journal: research that advances our knowledge of the science of nutrition and research with practical applications for community dietitians, managers, and clinicians. In this issue, Krick et al offer a good example of the latter (p 680). They developed growth grids that have enormous utility in providing referenc growth data for a special population — 0- to 10-year-old children with cerebral palsy Dietitians should seek out such opportunities to share their firsthand knowledge with other practitioners. Assessing the pieces of the antioxidant puzzle Antioxidants are back in the news as some recent research suggests that the link between these micronutrients and cancer prevention is more inconclusive than previously thought. If this swing of the pendulum has left you confused, turn to the continuing education article by Rock (p 693) in which she reviews the current research and gives an overview of what we do know about the antioxidant hypothesis and the biological functions of vitamins C and E and the carotenoids. Examining diet from the French perspective Not too long ago, scientists identified the French paradox: “the lower-than-expected rate of mortality from coronary heart disease in a society where the diet is rich in fat and saturated fat” (p 663). Drewnowski et al present an interesting new approach to the problem. They assessed dietary quality, diversity, and variety and found that although the typical French diet did not meet US dietary recommendations, it was more diverse and varied. Does measuring diet quality in these terms reveal aspects of nutritional status not shown through analysis of macronutrient content alone? These researchers pose an intriguing question. Looking ahead In May I attended the joint, meeting of the ADA and the Canadian Dietetic Association held in Banff, Canada. One of the most exciting sessions was a progress report on the Food and Nutrition Board's revision of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. In the August issue I will take up my reporter's pen and summarize the proposed changes, the most obvious of which is a name change: the RDAs will become the DRIs or Dietary Reference Intakes. In the meantime, Sims’ commentary (p 659) on how the current RDAs should and should not be used is important background reading and addresses many of the concepts that will be covered in the revision of the RDAs. Finally, be sure to look at the President's Page on managed care, which includes a look at HEDIS (p 715); the FYI on aspects of taste and nutrition (p 655); and the article by Patterson et al on the importance of including low-fat options on food frequency questionnaires (p 670). This issue is chock-full of interesting articles — I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed planning it! BOARD OF EDITORS Judith V. Anderson, DrPH, RD, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing Judith M. Ashley, PhD, RD, University of California, Los Angeles Stacey J. Bell, DSc, RD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass Lori Borrud, DrPH, RD, US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, Md Pamela L. Y. H. Clung, ScD, RD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga Bertrum C. Connell, PhD, RD, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif Sonja L. Connor, MS, RD, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland Ann M. Coulston, MS, RD, FADA, Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, Calif John P. Foreyt, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex Mary B. Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, Rush-Presbyteri,an-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, University of Vermont, Burlington Janice L. Kidd, PhD, MBA, RD, Kidd & Company, Knoxville, Tenn Nancy F. Krebs, MD, RD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver Susan M. Krebs-Smith, PhD, RD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md Debra A. Krummel, PhD, RD, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown Karen S. Kubena, PhD, RD, Texas A&M University, College Station Christine J. Lewis, PhD, RD, US Food and Drug Administration,, Washington, DC Richard D, Mattes, PhD, MPH, RD, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind Ellen Parham, PhD, RD, Northern Illinois University, De Kalb Cheryl L. Rock, PhD, RD, FADA, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Patt Queen Samour, MMSc, RD, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Mass Patricia L. Splett, PhD, RD, Cost-effective-ness Consultant, St Paul, Minn Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill Madelyn L. Wheeler, MS, RD, Indiana University Medical Center & Diabetes Research and Training Center, Indianapolis Anita K. Wilson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie Olivia B. Wood, MPH, RD, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind